A historic PCA Rookie Camp inducted a record 69 players prior to the start of the 2025 domestic season, with the event including a specific welcome to the new women’s professionals.
The two-day event took place at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground and the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham on 26-27 February 2025, attended by Derbyshire first team duo Yousaf Bin Naeem and Harry Moore.
For the first time since its inception in 2011, a Pre-Rookie Camp was held for women’s players due to the introduction of the new tiered system and the large influx of new female professionals in the sport.
Sessions included ‘self-awareness in professional sport’ and ‘being an elite athlete’ delivered by former footballer Leigh Nicol and current rugby player Celia Quansah, followed by an open discussion on the future of the women’s game with PCA Director of Player Rights and Women’s Cricket, Emma Reid, Director of Women’s Cricket at Lancashire David Thorley and Director of the Women’s Professional Game at the ECB, Beth Barrett-Wild.
The attendees comprised a host of players from England Women’s U19 squad who reached the semi-finals of the U19 T20 World Cup held in Malaysia earlier this year. These included captain Abi Norgrove (Hampshire), Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Jemima Spence (both Surrey) and Prisha Thanawala (The Blaze) amongst others.
Out of the male attendees on the second day, as many as 13 have represented England U19s in the last 12 months. These included the likes of Archie Vaughan (Somerset), Tazeem Ali (Warwickshire), Jack Home (Worcestershire), Harry Moore (Derbyshire), Kesh Fonseka and Rocky Flintoff (both Lancashire).
The second day was filled with educational seminars and workshops designed to help young players transition into the professional game. It included various speakers within and outside of the PCA. Lancashire’s Jennings who attended one of the first Rookie Camps in 2013 and Somerset Women’s PCA Rep Luff shared valuable insights to the young audience on “embracing the opportunity.”
New PCA Chair Olly Hannon-Dalby attended his first PCA event ahead of officially starting his new role from next week at the Annual General Meeting. The Warwickshire seam bowler addressed the rookies with a session on how their voices will be heard regarding any issues both on and off the field.
Rookie Camp also saw engaging sessions from B5 Consultancy on topics relevant to a younger audience like effective use of social media and maintaining healthy relationships from Nicol and former footballer Fraser Franks, alongside the awe-inspiring double amputee Shaun Whiter.
The PCA’s Official Motor Insurance Partner All Sport Insurance delivered a talk in the afternoon session along with a ‘tax made easy’ session from Official Tax/Accountancy Education Partner Clay GBP. Former footballer Scott Davies from EPIC Global Solutions also shared a lecture on gambling education.
The 15th PCA Rookie Camp was supported by the Graham Gooch Scholarship and forms part of the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme (PDWP), a personalised support service which aims to enable individuals to develop sustainable performance both within and outside of cricket.
